First National Bank of Pomeroy Building, Pomeroy Downtown Historic District Building ID #4

Historic District Downtown Building Inventory

First National Bank of Pomeroy Building, Spring 2021

It's a gray building as of Spring, 2021

First National Bank of Pomeroy Building, (Site ID 4)

Current (2021) address: 695 Main Street

Classification: Historic Contributing

In early May 1887, plans and specifications for the First National Bank Building of Pomeroy arrived for inspection by investor C.B. Foot and the bank's board of directors. The $22,000 contract was awarded to masons A.W. Scott and Seed who purchased the brick from the local brickyard about a mile from town. Completed in October, the new bank was touted as being a credit to the town and county, and "will stand as a lasting monument of their enterprise and to adorn the town for generations to come" (East Washingtonian, 3 November 1887). Directors C.A. McCabe, Elmer Scott, and John Brady opened the bank with a capital of $50,000. The bank closed its doors in 1898 after the depression of the mid-1890s. The Pomeroy Savings Bank moved into the building in 1898 and occupied the space until 1905 when the bank erected a new structure on the opposite side of the street to the east.

The western side of the building was used as commercial space, east half as the banking headquarter, and a portion of the north side as a commercial space. Upon completion, the upstairs had a hall and sixteen rooms that were rented as doctor and attorney offices, and to the Masons. A long-time tenant of the west storefront was Darby and Mowery Hardware, both pioneer merchants. Other tenants over the years have included Kuchiers Meat Market and Cold Storage (northern storefront), Pomeroy Grain Growers, the Washington State Liquor Store, and Rauch Flower Shop.

At different times, some of the second story rooms were used as apartments. The building, commonly referred to as the Black Building after long-time owner C.G. Black, was purchased in 1980 for use as the Pomeroy Senior Center. The Senior Center uses the western storefront as a meeting/dining room and rents the eastern storefront to the Aging and Long Term Care. The storefront facing 7th Street is occupied by the kitchen for the Senior Center.

The First National Bank Building, erected in 1887, is a two-story brick building designed with elements of the Gothic Revival and Italianate styles. The building has an ornate brick cornice decorated with raised pilasters, inset cross designs, corbel courses, and peaked parapets over two of the bays. These bays, on the east and south facades, have elongated recessed brick panels above a semicircular arch. All the bays are separated by raised brick pilasters capped with decorative brick elements.

Separated from the upper story by a corbel belt course, the lower story has largestorefront windows, pedestrian entrances, and smaller segmental arch windows. The storefronts on south (front) and east sides are supported by cast-iron columns with bases imprinted with a maker's mark that is imprinted with "Cheery and Parks, Albany, Oregon." The two storefronts on the front facade have transoms (some covered with plywood) recessed central entrances, and wood bulkheads. Raised brick pilasters capped with peaked arches flank the south entrance door to the upper story. The metal fined bank safe has a hand painted scene on the door. The safe was purchased from the W.B. Wilshire and Co. of San Francisco and Portland. Modifications include covering the east side storefront with plywood, addition of a metal canopy over the store fronts on the south facade, alteration of an east side door and window, and the addition of a shed roof garage on the north elevation.

Based on research by Donovan & Associates.

Quick Links

First National Bank of Pomeroy

From the "Turning Backward" column of the May 7, 1936, East Washingtonian, looking back 50 years to 1886:

The First National bank will be built across the street from the St. George hotel. It will be a two story structure.

Early View of First National Bank Bldg, Pomeroy, with horses

In this earliest view, it looks like horses tied up on 3rd/7th street

(Courtesy of the Garfield County Museum)

From the Mike Buckley estate, a note of Mrs. Celia Buckley's from the Pomeroy Savings Bank. Note that it is payable in "Gold Coin of the United States."

Darby & Mowrey

Darby and Mowery were an early occupant of the building. They were in the west Main street storefront. The men are identified as Louie Bouchet and Walter Darby.

Top of a statement from Darby and Mowry in 1907

(Courtesy of the Garfield County Museum)

The top of a Darby & Mowrey statement for the estate of Mike Buckley in 1907

outside of Grain Growers located in SE corner of First National Bank Bldg, Pomeroy

From the "graininess" of the photo, I think this is from a mid-50's year book.

Pomeroy Grain Growers

The corner of 3rd and Main in 1954.

Liquor Store

In December of 1957, it was important enough to make it onto the EW's front page:

Liquor Store Will Close 6 P. M. on Christmas Eve

The state liquor control board has issued orders that all state liquor stores and agencies will close at 6 p. m. on Christmas eve, December 24, reports Charles Burke, manager of the local liquor store.

This is the first time that such an order for an early closing on December 24 has been issued, Burke said, and the store managers have been asked to inform the public of the ruling.

Cold Storage Lockers

Scott's meat and Lockers

Pomeroy Super Citizens Senior Center

This made front page news on June 26, 1980:

Senior citizens granted variance for Black Bldg.

The Pomeroy city planning commission Monday night granted a variance which will allow the senior citizens group to use the Black Building as a senior citizens center, even though it does not have enough parking spaces available.

The senior citizens group, officially known as the Garfield County Super Citizens, has been looking into the possibility of using the building for a senior citizen center ever since a proposal to build a center in the Third Street Park was turned down. The senior citizens, however, found that the area does not have enough parking spaces to meet city ordinance requirements.

Donna Lomen, senior citizen coordinator, said that by using available on-street and off-street parking, as well as some of the parking at the west end of the hospital, there should be enough.

She said the building is not purchased as yet, because the organization wanted to see if the variance would be permitted. However, she said, a number of papers have been signed.

She also stated that an architect has begun drawing up plans for remodeling of the building. Because of its large size, not all of the building which would be remodeled at this time. In this way, the group also hopes to keep expenses within the budget of its grant, from the area agency on aging.

Mrs. Lomen said it has been found that the building itself was well-constructed, with triple-thick brick walls.

It is said to have been the first brick building in Pomeroy, constructed in 1888, and the only one to escape the big fire in 1900. The brick came from Benjamin Gulch, about one mile south of the golf course, on the Lew Williams place. For these reasons, the senior citizens hope to have it placed on the register of historic places and eventually hope for some aid to restore the building. Remodeling that is planned at this time—if the building is purchased—would not harm the original designs of the building, she said.

From the September 11, 1980, East Washingtonian:

Black Building renovation begins

The Senior Citizens group has purchased the Black Building and is now starting to renovate it, according to Donna Lomen, senior citizens' program coordinator.The building, located on the northwest corner of Seventh and Main, has been vacant for a year, but was found to be relatively free of major problems. A roof, which has been needed for many years, has not been installed. Accumulations of dirt and junk appear to be the only other serious problem, and volunteer work sessions are being scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 20, with any member of the community welcome to help out.

The building has been approved by the Yakima Southeast Area Agency on Aging, which is administering the state money being used to purchase and renovate the building. Mrs. Lomen said those who inspected the Black Building were very impressed with how well constructed it is.

Plans are to have a meeting room, vault, information and referal office kitchen and store room on the east side, or former Grain Growers side of the building. A large dining room, two rest rooms and a darkroom will be housed in the west side. A portion of the back corner is not going to be used at this time, but may be rented out for storage. It could be used in the future when money for renovation is available. Similarly, there are no plans to remodel the second floor at this time.

Behind the building, several parking places will remain, and the yard will be cleaned up to be used as a recreation area.

Mrs. Lomen said efforts are being started to have the building included on the historic register, since it is the town's first brick building. Eventually, if a historic restoration grant can be obtained, members of the group hope to restore the exterior. Since this requires 50 percent matching money, the restoration work is probably a long way in the future, she said.

Mrs. Lomen said the center won't cost any local tax dollars, since it is being funded by state and federal funds, and operations are to be paid for by the programs using the center, plus dues. The senior citizens group, Gar-field County Super Citizens, is incorporated to operate the facility.

Although most of the funds for the purchase and renovation are being provided through the area agency on aging, the local group must furnish $6,000 "matching funds," or services or supplies.

These are being provided in a number of ways: Les James, architect from Lewiston Blueprint, donated the architectural drawings; the school district donated the old drapes from the high school auditorium; Pete's Hardware has offered a discount on materials; town and county residents have offered to loan equipment, and will provide help in the cleanup. All of these, and any other donations, can be counted in the local match, she said. Among other items needed—donated or loaned—are a piano, pool table and some living room furniture.

Once completed—projected for the end of the year—the senior citizens will be able to move their offices from the courthouse and their weekly meals from the American Legion hall. Among other things that can be held are dances, health and information clinics and craft demonstrations. The group is also planning to make coffee and doughnuts each day, and offer them to the public for a donation. It is possible that other events will also be held in the center, which can be used as a community cen- ter as well as a senior citizens center, Mrs. Lomen said. Among other projects of the group will be tours around the area and activities in conjunction with the Clarkston and Dayton senior citizens. When completed, Pomeroy's center will be larger than the one in either Dayton or Clarkston, she said.

With completion of the senior center here, all counties under the jurisdiction of the Yakima Area Agency on Aging will have such facilities. Mrs. Lomen said the agency is expected to have several thousand dollars each year for maintenance, and Pomeroy should get some of this, to help keep up the center.

For the present, members are doing what they can to help out in construction. Some of the work is contracted, but other work will be done by volunteer forces.

Members of the group are planning a sidewalk sale in front of the center on Western Day, and they will also be selling baked goods and crafts at the county fair. For the present, weekly meals are continuing at the Legion hall. Since school has resumed, the group has resumed its practice of noon meals twice a week—on Wednesdays and Fridays. During the summer, only the Wednesday meal was offered.

Wandering Pomeroy's Main Street

← McKeirnan Storage

City Hall/Fire Station →

POMEROY WEATHER

Area Traffic Cameras
Alpowa Summit
Delaney (20+ miles W on Highway 12)
SE Washington Traffic Alerts

This Web site has been financed by Castlemoyle Books and Gifts for the Pomeroy Historic Preservation Committee.
The Committee gratefully acknowledges donations of time, photographs, scans, and other
assistance from the Garfield County Museum and individual citizens of Pomeroy and Garfield County.

The Pomeroy Historic Preservation Committee
66 South 7th Street
Pomeroy WA 99347